Electric welding



July 21, 1936- J. HOTHERSALL 2,047,964 I ELECTRIC WELDING I r Filed Ju n e 25, 1935 5 Sheeis-Sheet 1 1 I Q 9; L0. I I ATTORNEYS I July 21, 1936. J. M. HOTHERSALL' 7,

5 Sheehs-Sheet 2 July 21, 1936- J. M. HOTHERSALL 1 ELECTRIC WELDING Filed June 23, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 21, 1936.

I J. M.- HOTHERSALL ELECTRIC WELDING Filed June 23, .1955

5 SheetS-Shet 4 ELECTRI C WELDING Filed June 2:5, 1953 5 Sheets-Sheet s Z4? 1 0 I I W @44 44 g 23/ NVENTOR- 22/ 2,4 9 I m AW ,{Patented July 21 193 6 I ELECTRIC .WELDING John M; Hothersall, Brooklyn, N. Y., assignor to American Can Company, New York. N. Y., a

corporation of New Jersey Application June 23, 1933, Serial No. 77,329 2 "v cam. (01.2194) I f The present invention relates to forming and stood from the v following description, which,

welding apparatus and has for. its object gener- Tally, simplification of the welding step as it .is applicable to the welding of tubularbodies by means of which such bodies are formed andcon- ",veyed in processional order through the forming f and welding operations from which they emerge fully welded. I I The invention contemplates forming axblank into tubular shape as it is brought overa mandrel l and then moving this tubular shapealong the @m'and-rel in one direction, during which time its jedges-are brought together and united ina welded I I sideseam and a welded body produced. In an apparatus embodying the present invengtion blanks are received at the entrance end of ithe machine, are conveyed without interruption.

Qthrough a preparation station, through a body forming station and then through a welding sta- Qtion, theyfully welded tubular bodies produced 7 from the blanks being finallydischarged from the t exit end of the machine; all of the operations being performed in an expeditious manner? An important object of the present invention is f-the provision of an apparatus of the character Jdescribed into, which the blanks are successively If "introduced and froxnwhich fully welded tubular bodies are discharged, the blank edges beingfirst prepared for welding, the blanks then being shaped 39am tubular form and sized to produce bodies of a predetermined diameter with their prepared I (edges held together, and these edges being then l welds in the bodies which: are of uniform thicknessand'which are substantially homologous with a the other portions of the body walls.

A further important object of the" invention is I the provision of a forming mandrel for a weld- 1 ing apparatus which is adapted to receive'tubular bodies as they are formed fromrflat blanks'and 3 which is further adapted to sustain and guide the bodies as they are, conveyed therealong, first through devices for uniting adjacentiedges and for tacking-together portions ot theseedges to '1 hold the bodies to a predetermined size and' to form side seam joints and secondly,- through the 7 j Dwelding devices so that the tubular bodies as discharged from the mandrel have fully welded side ns'e'ams. I e ,Numerou's other dbjects and advantages of the invention will be apparent as it is better undertaken in connection with the accompanying drawings, discloses a preferredembodiment thereof.

Referring to the drawings: I Figure 1 is a top plan view of an apparatus em- 5 bodying the present invention} Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section taken through the forming mandrel being substantially a section along the line 2--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged transversesectional view 10 partly broken away taken substantially along the' line 3-.3'in Fig. 1; v a

. Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional detail taken substantially along the line 4-4 in J Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along the line 5-5 in Fig. l;

General description of apparatus functions Blanks 2 0 (Figs; 1 an s) are introduced into the apparatus in any suitable manner and are passed over the surface of a table 2i which may, Q form an integral part of the main frame indicated by thenumeral 22. Advancement of theblanks over the table 2i is effected by a pair oi .35 conveyor chains 13'7Whl0h, at theirmachine ends.

pass over sprockets 2Q fcarriedjon a horizontal shaft 25. This-shaft 25 is journaled in bearings. 26 formed in the frame '22 and may beoperated in any suitable manner, just so its rotation is synchronized with other operating parts.

Each conveyor chain 23 carries spaced lugs 21 which engage behind the blanks 20 and positively propel them forward over the surface of the table, the. blanks first passing through a grind- 4 ing station A (Fig. 1). Two lower grinding devices- 3|, one on-either side, and two upper devices 32 of similar construction are located-at this. station. The lower devices thin or taper the edges of, the sheet by grinding away a portion 60 of its lower Iaceand the upper-devices in like manner grind away-part of the top face. In this movement over the table the blanks are retained against lateral displacement by side guide rails 35 carried upon the table. d At the forward-end of the table travel, the

i -cut edge of the blank comes 'a'gainst a cross through openings 31 cut in the table and pass back on the lower runs of the conveyor. This blank in station B is in position for transverse feeding into a forming station C.

A formingmandrel 4| (Figs. 1, 2 and 3) is,

located alongside of the blank resting at sta tion B. This mandrel is supported at its rear end by a bracket 42 carried upon and bolted to a sub-table 43 which :may be an integral part of the frame 22, the surface of the sub-table being below the surface of the table II. A second support adjacent the rear end of the mandrel M is also had at H where it is'bolted to a vertical web 45 of the frame 22. The parts 42, d5 rigidly hold the rear end of the mandrel 4! which, however, extends forward free and unsupported'a considerable distance.

By means of such a construction, which mechanically is equivalent to that employed in many forms of body formers, the blanks 20 may be formed into tubular shape on the rear supported end of the mandrel but with their ends separated to clear the support 45 and after passing forward of such support may be brought into closed body form. The tubular bodies are then further advanced longitudinally of the mandrel, the free and unsupported forward section of the mandrel permitting such forward advancement.

The mandrel, M is practically cylindrical throughout its entire length and roughly has a diameter approximating the inside diameter of the can body to be produced. The mandrel may be arbitrarily divided into a receiving section,

the diameter of which is slightly larger than the can body diameter, this being adjacent the rear supporting end 01' the mandrel, a sizing section normally less in diameter than the inside body diameter but having an expandible part which produces a mandrel diameter of the desired inside can body diameter, and a supporting section extending toward the forward free "end of the mandrel which is slightly smaller in diameter to permit easy movement of the can body after it has been sized and during its further movement along the mandrel. These mandrel features will be more evident as the description proceeds.

Transverse feeding devices 5 l (Figs. land 3) engage the of! side of the blank 20 as it rests at station 3 and shift it laterally into forming rollmoves longitudinally of the mandrel and on its forward stroke brings the blank form into, a six-- ing and tacking station D (Figs. 1 and 2). 'Ihe lower edges of the blank form are still apart when it comes to rest at station D.

The blank form is first engaged from above and along its middle section by a clamp bar 52 (Figs. 2 and 6) which holds it firmly on the mandrel at its top while its free sides are moved inwardly by side wings Oljwhich press against and wrap it around hinged sizing riedin the mandrel ll.

wit!!! car- This wrappin action brings the adjacent lower edges of the blank form into overlapped relation, these edges having been previously thinned by the grinding devices ll, 32, as previously described. A tubular body is thus formed ,5 and this body will hereinafter be designated by the numeral 65. The overlapped edges are next tacked together at spaced intervals by upper electrodes 66 (carried inside the mandrel and resting against the inside lap) and lower electrodes 67 which are brought up against the outside lap). These electrodes are means for tacking together the lapped parts of the body before the continuous welding.

The tubular body 65 with its tacked and overlapped edges is ready for the welding of these edges into a fully closed side seam. It is con-' veyed from station D along and off the forward or free end of the mandrel 4i by.a continuously moving conveyor chain 68 (Figs. 1, 2, '6 and '7), 20 a longitudinal slot 69 being fonned in the surface of the mandrel for clearance.

This chain at its machine end passes over a sprocket H mounted on an idler shaft 12 carried in a bracket 13 formed in the frame of the 'ma- 25 chine. The chain maybe operated by a drive sprocket located in any suitable position beyond the end of the mandrel Hi, this movement of the chain being synchronized with the operations at the'sizing and tacking station D. Spaced flights 30 id carried by the chain engage behind the sized tubular bodies 65 and sweep them along the mandrel during which travel the welding operation is performed Just in advance of station 13 is a welding sta- 35 tion E(Figs. 1 and 2) where the overlapped edges of the body pass between an upper roller electrode 15 located inside of the mandrel and a lower roller electrode 16 positioned beneath and in vertical alignment with the upper electrode and the mandrel. The passing body along its upper part passes beneath backing-up rollers 11 which hold the mandrel ll and the electrode 15 against upward movement.

The resulting welded side seam oftheover-v lapped body parts is pressed to a thickness substantially that of the thickness of the remaining body wall by means of the rollers TI. The overlapped edges have already been thinned and ground, it wilhbe remembered, so that they are considerably less in combined thicknessbefore welding than a double thickness of stock and the parts therefore need not be compressed very much to bring the seam weld to the desired thickness.

The description up to this point has only briefly set forth the major features of operation taking place as the body blanks II are first conveyed by the conveyor chains 28 then up and over the mandrel 4i and finally along, the mandrel as fully welded tubular bodies I! as carried by the conveyor chain ll. Fuller details of the operations and the parts performing the operations at the various stations will now be considered.

Blank edae grinding Ablsnk II moving over the surface of the table 2| and ov the lower grinding devices 3| passes under two d down rollers ll (Figs. 1 and 8) one roller oneach side edge of the blank.- The [0 lowermostpart of each roller is Just the thickness of the blank above the surface of the table. Bach roller II is loosely mounted on a stud 82 which iscsrriedinsbracketu mounteduponsnd carried by the table II.

rear end 85 to properly receive the blank'and guide it'ove'r the table. Each wall 84 aligns with a grind-i I beneaththe' roller| on that side of the table.

I 7 The dis'c 85 is mounted on a motor shaft 51 which is inclined inwardly from the vertical at its top 1 being a high speed shaft of a motor 58. Each g gmotoris bolted to a side wall of the frame 22.

An abrasive ring 85 provides the active grindwing element which is carried in the disc 85 and its 'upperface adjacent its outer edge extends above r :the surface of the table and engages the lower a reee of the blank passing above and held down (against the grinding ring by the roller;5|. This grinding of the lower surface of the blank is confined to its outer edges. justing bolt 9| threadedly secured in the frame ".of themachine preferably provides a. means of to each part I32. The rollers 52, 53 are geared A supporting and adj vertical movement for themotor 88 to compensate for'wear of the abrasive ring 89, bolts 92 I25 @The upper grinding devices 32 are located a clamping the motor in its adjusted position.

I ,eslight distance forward of, the rollers 8| and 1 ,these grind away a portion of the top surface of the blank adjacent its outer edges in exactly the same manner as the grinding step just described.-

;A grinding disc 93 corresponds to the disc 85 of I the lower grinding unit and carries an abrasive ring 94, which is rotated at high speed by a motor 35.. Each motor 95 is secured by bolts '35- in an above the table 2 I. Anadjusting and supporting bolt 98 threaded in the bracket 91 provides accu- 1 rate adjusting means for positioning the -motor I 4 95 and the abrasive ring 94.

Transverse. feeding of blank The feeding device 5| 2 at station B comprises (i e feed bar IIJI (Figs. 1 and 3) which moves crosswise of .the line of .travel of the blanks between stations A and -B and this. bar has sliding fm'ovementwithin a groove'I02 cut in'the surface ofthe table 2|. This feedbar carries-fa spring pressed finger I03 which is just outside of one edge of the blank 20 asit' comes to restat station The guide rail 35'on'this side of themachine 1 terminates short of the rail 35 to permit free I movement of the finger I53withiits feed bar and ward the left (Fig. 3) and its finger I03; engaging f nasupplemental guide rail section I04? mounted ,o'nthe' table 2| further guides the sheet edge. )[The feeding stroke of the guide bar 'IOI is to- I behind the edge or the blank. 20 during such "movement,- shifts it laterally and carries it into the bite of the formingrollers 52, 53. The table 2I is cut out at I05 and a' block I05 secured to 109. I Lever I09 is mounted for oscillation on a horiizontal shaft III heldin any suitable manner in "is journale'd .-,-in. bearings I I5 formed inebracket extensions III of the frame 22,

1 the, frame 22 .of' the machine.

*of the lever I09 carries a cam roller I I2 which operates. in a groove N3 of. abarrel cam II4 keyed to a horizontal shaft -I I5. The shaft H5 5* me shaft m carries a sprocket lzi mgs. i

I I I g I n I r I 2,047,964 r Each bracket is preferably forniedwith a ingside' wall: 84 which is flared outwardly at its "adjusted position on aneupwardly extending. bracket 31. formed in the frame 22'and located The lower end and 3) which is rotated by connection with the drive shaft of-the machine. For this purpose a chain I22 passes over the sprocket I2| and also over a sprocket I23 (Figs. 1 and 6) which is keyed to a horizontal drive shaft I24. The shaft l 5 I24 is journaled in bearings I25 formed in the frame 22. This shaft is rotated in any suitable manner as by application of power to a beltpulley I25 carried on one end of the shaft.

Blank forming into tubular shape The blank 2| upon being inserted into the bite offtherollers 52, 53 is carried against the defiecting plate 54 and raised upwardly and over the mandrel 4|. as alreadybriefly described. These rollers 52, 53are carried in a cage I3I (Figs. 2,3 and 4)which is'held in the frame 22 of the machine, thiscage resting upon the subtable 43. The rollers are journaled in split bearing blocks, each formed by a projection 'I32 ex- 20 tending upwardly from the. cage I3I on each end of the rollers and by a' bearing cap I33 bolted.

together for unity of rotation; the upper roller 52 carrying a gear I34 meshing with asimilar gear 25 I35 carried by the lower roller 53. Gear I35 meshes with a gear I35 mounted on a stub shaft. I31 held in a bearing I38 formed in the cage I3I. The shaft I31 also carries a sprocket I which may bean integral part of the gear I and a drive chain I42 passes over this sprocket. Chain I42 is driven by a motor I43 (Fig.1) located on an extension I44 of the sub-table frame 43, the chain passing over a sprocket I45 carried by the motor shaft. g

The deflecting plate 54 (Fig. 3) is carried upon a 'wedge block I5I which is mounted upon an inclined platform J52 formed in the cage I3I. The position of the wedge block relative to the inclined platform determines the height of the defleeting plate 54 and shifting of these parts ad-. justs the plate relative to'the rollers In ad- 1 justed position the parts are locked together by v a bolt vI58. The defiecting'plate 54 is also -adjusted forward and back. An adjusting bolt I55 threadedly engages'the plate and carries a collar I55, collar and bolt head being on'opposite sides of aslot I51 formed in-a wall of the cage I 3|.

AS the blank 20 is bent and shaped around the mandrel 4| itf'isguided through a pass formed bypivoted guide, wings I (Figs. 2 and 3) hung over the mandrel and held in spaced position but close. to its-outer surface, There is a 'wing I5I on each sideof the'mandrel and the lower or free end of each reaches to a position a short distance above. the surfaceof the table 2|.

Each wing is pivotaily mounted on and suspended from a fixed rod I52 which is supported at one end in a boss I53 formed in the upper end of the bracket '42. The mandrel 4| is cut away at its bottom, adjacent its rear end, in a recess or pocket I55 and the upper roller 52 extends into' this pocket.

, Transfer of tubular shape along mandrel The transfer of the tubular blank form or shape along the mandrel 4] by the feed bar unit 5| from station C into the sizing and tacking station D is effected by three reciprocating bars in the feed slide-unit 5|. These include an upper center bar I1I (Figs. 1, 2and 3) and tw'oside bars I12-which have sliding movementwithin grooves I13 cut in tion C and these dogs force it forward with their forward movement. I

Thebars I1I, I12 are connected at their rear ends by a cross head I15 (Figs. 1 and 5) which is pivotally connected-at I16 to a link-I11 which in turn is pivotally connected at I13 to the'upper end of an arm I19 pivotally mounted on a stud I8I carried in the frame 22.

This arm I19 is rocked back and forth by connection with a crank carried on the shaft H5. A connecting rod I82 (Figs. 2 and 5) is pivotally connected at I83 to the arm I19 and the opposite end of this rod I82 surrounds a crank pin I94 carried in spaced crank arms I05 (see also Fig.3) secured to the shaft II5. This crank pin and arms tie together two sections of the shaft H5 and these two sections as'to their operations constitute a single shaft and are so described.

Swinging of the arm I19 through the crank connection just described is transmitted to the feed bars I1I, I12 which, on their forward movement, transfer the tubular blank form along the mandrel 4I moving it from station C into station D.

Sizing, overlapping and connecting edges to form tubular bodies The tubular blank form at station D is first presses down on the upper end of the bar exten,

sion I9I to clamp it into holding position. Movement of the wedge is eifected by means of the following parts. v V p 'The wedge member I 98 is pivotally connected at 20I to one arm of a bell crank lever 202 which is adapted to rock on a stud 203 held in the web I94 of the frame. The opposite arm of the bell crank lever is pivotally connected" at 204 to a= collar 205 which is adjustably held on a vertical connecting rod 206 by clamp nuts 201. The rod 206 at its lower end is, enlarged into a yoke 208. The legs of the yoke section extend into an annular groove 209 out in the hub of a cam 2 which is keyed to'the drive shaft I24. Yoke 208 carries a stud 2I3 which supports a roller 2I6 adapted to operate in a groove 2I5 formed in the face of the cam 2I I.

The hinged side sizing walls 64 of the mandrel M will now be described in detail and their actions in sizing the mandrel will be noted. These walls are formed with rounded heads 22I (Fig. 6) which are mounted in sockets formed in the mandrel. Outward sizing movement of the sizing I wings 64 is effected by a sliding plate 225 (Figs. 2,

6 and 9) which moves inside and longitudinally of the mandrel 4!. a

The plate 225 is formed at its forward ends into two'arms 226 which are slidingly supported in blocks 221 carried in the mandrel. A'cap 228 (Fig. 2) is bolted on the top part of each block 221 andthesecaps hold the arms 226 in sliding pered faces 23I along the forward edges. These 'wing for substantially a horizontal movement.

faces are adapted to ride against tapered faces 232 formed in rear edges-of projections'233 extending inwardly from the side wings 64. The wings 64 may be yieldinglytied together near their bottom free edges by a spring 234 which in- 5 sures collapse of the mandrel walls when the plate 225 is slid back to disengage its projections 229 and the wing projections 233.

The rear end of the slide 225 is apertured at 236 and a spring 231 is located within the opening, being interposed between the end of the slide at the back and a stationary block 233 carried in p the mandrel 4i and extending up into the opening. This spring when not compressed holds the slide in its retracted position with the side wing walls 63 collapsed.

The "slide 225 is moved forward when sizing the mandrel and then the projection faces 23! are forced against the faces 232 moving out the side wings. This outward or sized position is maintained by the slide projections 229 sliding in between the wall projections 233 and locking the wings against inward movement. This forward movement of the slidetakes place against the action of the spring 231 which is compressed by 25 such movement. I

Forward movement of the slide 225 to effect such sizing is made by a vertically movable plate 24I (Figs. 2 and 9) the top of which extends upwardly' through an opening 242.cut vertically 30 through the slide. The plate 2 adjacent its top end is formed with an inclined wall 243 which engages with a similar inclined wall 244 formed atone end of the opening 242. Upward movement of the plate 24I is transmitted through the inclined surfaces into the longitudinal forward movement of the slide 225.

Wrapping-of the sides of the tubular blank forms around the sized mandrel follows immediately. Each sidewing 63 is formed with a body 25I (Fig. 6) which is pivotally mounted at two places designated 252, 253. Pivot 252 is carried by an arm 254 loosely mounted on a stud 255 held in the frame web I 94. The pivot 253 connects with one arm of a bell crank lever 256 which has rocking movement on a stud251 also ilxed in the web I94.

The bell crank lever 256 of each side wing 63 is rocked on its stud 251 to carry its side wing into body wrapping position, the arm 254 holding the This form of construction is used in some can body makers. The other arm of the bell crank lever ispivotally connected at 26I to the upper end of a telescoping spring held connecting rod unit 262 which is pivotally connected below at 263m an arm 264 keyed to a rock shaft 265.

Each rock shaft 265 (Figs. 2, 3 and 6) is journaled in a bearing 266 formed inthe web 45 of the f so that one edge of the blank is laid down first and the other edge is then lapped over it. 7 The tubular body65 thus formed is held tightly wrapped against the sized walls of the mandrel 7 M, the engaged thinned or ground overlapped edges being then in condition for the tacking operation which follows. The tacking operation accomplished by the electrodes I. bolts 212, these .boltsbeing' properly insulated- 8 fromthe electrode body by an insulating sleeve upper electrodes 88 (lfigs. 2 and'8) are preferably formed as projections-of an electrode body 21| which is secured to the, mandrel 8| by 1213. The electrode 2" is completely insulated from the mandrel by a channelmember 218 [interposed between the body and the mandrel.

Laminated copperor other suitable electrical ample to providean electrical path for" the welding'current. The stripsare'held in electrical connection with the electrode body 211 by the bolts 212 but these strips are also insulated from the frame of the machine by the channel member218. The strips 215 may extend rearwardly through the mandrel wiiienis formed hollowwith a *central chamber 218 (see also Fig. 3). The strips passfthrough the bracket beyond which they.

20 may be carried in any suitable manner. For example the. strips maybeextended as at *211 and 1 connect (as shown on'the right, lowerqslde of Fig.2) to a transformer box 218 or other suit able source of'electrical welding energy. i

3;; The lower electrodes 81 are preferablyformed -as; upwardly extending projections of an elec- 2 yinsulating plate 281 being used reithis purpose.

" The cage 288 is electrically connected by means I of laminated strips 288 to the'other side of weld-. ingtransformer 218. e

s The cross head 282 (Figs. 2 and 6) is anfintegral part: of a slide 29l which has vertical movement @withinguidewaysformedin a projectingpart 282 ,;of the frame web I88. Guideplates 288 secured to the web retain the slide 281, in its sliding position.

ilapped edges of the tubular body 88 but the ends ::of a the overlapped edges -are first registered or made even as I I registering elements are carried in the cross head ,pmakers. They comprise flipper members! carried at the ends of the-electrode body 28l from which: they are electrically insulated. Each flipper288 is mounted upon a spring 288' carried in 2 5 lthe eross head and 8 the 'Iattermov'es upwardly ?the upper ends of the flippers strike against the mandrel 8 I This arrests their upward movement. but'the cross head continuing upwardly, slides alongzthe flippers as the springs 288, yield.

j Thefront flipper mils held in place bya plate inclined surface 288 slides on and pushes over an the. flipper. v 1

I The rear flipper 288 isconilned between a rear q wall of the cross head 282' and thepl'ate 281 which is secured to and which is moved by the cross top of thelatter moves forward. The overlapped ledges of the body 83 are thus caught between the 75 two movins flipp rs and are brought into exact fconducting strips 215 are shown. by way: ofexally connected at388 to the upper end of a headed bolt 881. This bolt extends into the upper end of such an electrode body may electrically connect by laminated copper or other suitable strips 288 JRaising of the crosshea'd 282 bringsthe electrodes 81 into electricalconnection with the over-;

the cross .head ascends. These lromondanother;

' electrode are electrically connected in the weldand'are of a construction found in somecan body 'zei nie upper edge of which is beveled at: m; and as cross head and plate move upwardly this "inclined surface 288 formedon the frontfface of to oppose the welding pressure and for insuring 65 registration prior to the electrodes 81 meeting the body.

The continued upward movement. of the cross head 282 then brings the electrodes 81 into welding position on the body edges and a spot weld at 5 intervals along such edges results. The flippers 285 at such time remain in holding position as their springs 298 yield and take up the full movement of the cross head. This spot welding I term a tacking ioperation, and, the; electrodes 81 are means for this purpose.

The cross headis raised and lowered by connection with the drive shaft I24. Lugs 885 (Figs.

2 and 6) are formed in the cross head and pivota pitman 888 which is formed with a cylindrical 8 base 889 encircling a crank section 8 formed in the drive shaft I24. The bolt 881 passes through a spring M2 and provides a yielding connection between the cross head and the pitman The lower end of the bolt 3811s cross-slotted at 818 and a pin 8 passing through the slot and heldin the pitman body prevents disconnection between the parts. This yielding connection pro- 2 vides a cushion for the lower electrodes 81 and insures the proper pressure against the overlapped and interposed seamed parts for forming the desired spot welds.

. Side seam welding The welding or the body as as it is moved from station D through the welding station E and between the roller electrodes 15, 18 will now be described. As the body leaves the sizing station the mandrel'expanding and sizing parts are again in the collapsed state and the mandrel at this station is then smaller than the encircling tackmounted inside of the hollow mandrel. It is secured to the mandrel by a bolt 828. This bolt is insulated from the cage by a washer 828 and an insulating channel member 828 is interposed between cage and mandrel to insulate these parts The cage 822 and shaft and in'g' circuit byan. extension 828 of the laminated strips-218 boltedto the cage. The'lower roller electrode 18 is mou ted upon- 1 a shaft .821'which is carried .ir'i-the cage 88 previously described. This cage is also in the electric welding circuit the strips 288 connecting directly lapped body parts'and the continuous welded side seam results.

The hold down rollers 11 or backing-up means an even thickness of the welded seam are each mounted upon a stationary shaft 88l. Each shaft is carried in a boss 882 formed in theupper end ofr'a bracket 888 which is mounted upon and car I ried by the sub-table 88 of the frame :22. The 70 rollers turn freely on their shafts, the passing. v bodies propelled by the chain 1| determining this q roller movement. The rollers 11 are spaced above the upper surface of the-mandrel 8| and never touch it,.the rollers rid n free on their 7 this! in between successive tubular bodies passing along the mandrel.

It is thought that the invention and many of its Y attendant advantageswill be understood from the foregoing description, and it will be apparent that various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention or sacrificing all or its material advantages, the form hereinbefore described being merely a preferred embodiment thereof.

I claim:

1, In an apparatus for producing welded tubular bodies from flat body blankscomprising, in combination, a forming mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel at one end thereof, roller means for forming flat body blanks into tubular shape and positioning them on the mandrel, means for overlapping adjacent edges of said tubular shapes to form tubular bodies, feeding meansfor moving said bodies along said mandrel through a welding station adjacent the unsupported end of said mandrel, roller-electrodes in said welding station through which the overlapped edges of said body are passed by said feeding means to weld them in a side seam, and backing-up means at said station for cooperating with said electrodes to press the said overlapped seamed section into substantially the same thick- ,ness as the thickness of said body wall.

and thence of! of itsopposite end, sizing devices located at one of said stations fox-bringing together and overlapping adjacent edges of said tubular shapes to form tubular bodies of predetermined diameter, registering elements at said sizing station for bringing the ends of said overlapped edges into register, tacking elements also,

at said sizing station for connecting said overlapped edges to maintain the said size diameter of body, and welding means at a welding station for uniting said connected edges in a welded side seam.

3. In an apparatus for producing welded tubular bodies from iflat body blanks comprising, in combination, means for grinding the meeting edges of said blanks, a forming mandrel, means for conveying the ground body blanks to adjacent said mandrel, means for supporting said mandrel at one end thereof, means for forming flat body blanks into tubular shape and positioning them on the mandrel, means for overlapping adjacent edges of said tubular shapes to form tubular bodies, feeding means for' moving said bodies along said mandrel through a welding station adjacent the unsupported end of said mandrel, roller electrodes .in said welding station through which the overlapped edges of said body are passed by said feeding means to weld them in a side seam, and backing-up means at said station for cooperating with said electrodes to press the said overlapped seamed section into substantially the same thickness as the thickness of said body wall. I

4. In an apparatus for producing welded tubular bodies from flat body blanks comprisingpin combination, a formin mandrel, means (or forming flat body blanks into tubular shapes and simultaneously positioning them on the mandrel adjacent one end, means for moving said tubular shapes along said mandrel'and through a plurality of stations and thence of! of its opposite end, sizing devices located at one of said stations for bringing together and overlapping adjacent edges of said tubular shapes to form tubular bodies of predetermined diameter, registering elements at said sizing station for bringing the ends of said overlapped edges into register, and weldeing means at a welding station for uniting said connected edges in a welded side seam.

5. In an apparatus for producing welded light gauge metal can bodies from flat body blanks, comprising in combination, a mandrel having a diameter substantially equal tothe diameter of the can body to .be produced, means mounted adjacent one side of said mandrelifor forming fiat body blanks into tubular shapes and for positioning them on the-mandrel adjacent an end thereof, means including an expanding section within said mandrel for holdingthe edges of said tubular'shapes in lapped position and for sizing the same to the desired can body diameter, means for moving said tubular shapes along said mandrel and toward its opposite end, and welding means operating on opposite sides of the lapped edges of said sized tubular shapes while passing along said mandrel for connecting said edges in continuous welded side seams.

6. In an apparatus for producing light gaug metal can bodies from flat body blanks, comprising in combination, a forming mandrel having a receiving station slightly greater in diameter than the desired diameter of the'can body being formed, a sizing section expandible to the same diameter and a supporting section of less diameter, said mandrel receiving and guiding the can bodies through their formative stagea means for forming flat body blanks into tubular shapes while laterally positioning them on the receiving section or said mandrel, means for moving said tubular shapes longitudinally of said mandrel and through said sizing and supporting sections, means cooperating with said sizing mandrel section for. bringing said tubular shapes into desired can body diameter, and welding devices arranged in said mandrel supporting section for operating on adjacent edges of'said sized tubular shapes to connect said edges in continuous welded side seams. i

7. In an apparatus for producing welded light gauge metal can v bodies from flat body blanks, comprising in combination, an elongated forming mandrel for supporting the cam bodies as formed, said mandrel embodying an expandible sizing section, means arranged at one side of said mandrel for forming flat body blanks into tubular shapes the while positioning them laterally on the mandrel adjacent one end, means for moving 

